ANGLO-CHINESE TREATY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20644, 16 February 1929, Page 19

ANGLO-CHINESE TREATY.

TARIFF AUTONOMY. ' arrangements; with. ■ 7 .. DOMINTQNS, v:... ; (From Our Own . Correspondent;) LONDON, ..January 5. The text of the-Tariff-Treaty signed at Nanking on December ‘2O between Great Britain and the National Government of China was issued last week by the Foreign Office. The treaty ■ consists of four articles, as ■ Its declared -purpose is “to strengthen the good relations that ‘happily, exist” between the King of; Great' Britain and the President of the National Government of the Republic of China, and “to facilitate and extend trade and commerce between their respective countries." ' • The British signatory., is Sir .JOles L'ampson, .“his Majesty‘s,Envoy Extraordinary, and Minister . Plenipotentiary, to the Ee» publiy of China,’’ and that for China ’is Or, Chengting T. Wang,. Minister of Foreign Affairs. • * , , It is agreed that all, provisions of existing treaties the high contracting parties which, limit in any way-the right of China to settle her national customs tariff in such n way as-she may think fit are hereby abrogated/*and.that .the prim ciplo of complete national-tariff autonomy shall apply. V • ■' , , , The nationals* of. cither-: of;-the high contracting parties shall not be compelled under any pretext whatever, to pay in China and the territories of his Britannic Majesty to which the'present treaty applies respectively any duties,.- internal charges, or taxes upon , goods imported'or exported by' them bthwe than or'. higher than those paid, on goods : of the same origin by Chinese and British nationals respectively, or by-nationals of any other foreign country. -

. , TONNAGE. DUES. ■ /. Under article HI; the. King agrees to the abrogation of existing treaties that limit the right ofv China to,, impose: ton* nage does at such rates a ssbe may think " fit In this connection British'ships in China and Chinese ships in the British \ territories to which .. the treaty applies ' are to receive treatment not less favourable than that accorded to .the ehips'of any other foreign icon ■• p - ' Ratification of the treaty will immediately bring it into force-■ In the annex to the treaty Sir Miles Lampson asks for and obtains from Dr Wang confirmation of an: understanding that articles produced or manufactured in British'territories and imported, into. China, and, reciprocally, articles product or manufactured in .China and imported into British territories, from -whatever place arriving,-.shall, receive, as- yeghrds import duties; internal taxation, transit duties, etc., treatment ho less favburable than that accorded to goods of any other foreign country. 1 . ■ RENUNCIATION OF DOMINIONS’ RIGHTS.: . v v. . A further annex fro.m. Sir.M.-Lampson conveys the renunciation;-on behalf of his Majesty’s Governments in, Canada, Australia, New. Zealand, South Africa, the Irish'Free State, Newfoundland, Southern Rhodesia, and ; all-the non-self-governing colonies and Protectorates, of, any rights they had under existing ‘treaties; which .A* an y way the right of China to settle her Customs, tariff -or to impose tonnage dues. , ■ ■,' In return, the Chinse Foreign Minister undertakes that British poods from these territories willreceive most-favoured* , nation, treatments in -China so .long as Chinese goods .receive im these territories treatment as favourable as that accorded ’ to goods produced or-manufactured in anyother foreign country;. , . -. , . A corresponding undertaking - is given in respect of export .duties in China, pit goods exported to, those-territories.' .

ONE YEAR’S TRIAL. It is provided in-an hdditional’annex P a *, ad Va -?f em . rat “ of or rates bfised upon, them m thenational' Customs tariff are the same as the rates discussed T^s# P r Vl f ° nal * ’ u P° n ■ at the Tariff Conference of -1026,. and that these are the maximum rates to be levied. on iJntipli goods,, and will remain so-for at lease'one year. ' ' . is also made clear by ithe Chinese Minister that; it is ; the'.,Chinese GoveraS S tha t goods having once paid duty to the, maritime'Customs in accordance with the rates of the new or, anw subsequent national tariff Will be freed® h* Hnd JS SS i b - e 5 0m ai »y t lwies. ; of the nmd specified in jthe. proclamation, .of- the Natmnal Government of July 20, 1927. £ 11 , k1 ?.> native: Customs taxei tra d e , duties, and all other £ fnnported goods, whether levied i» transit or on arrival at 1 destination;) T